The Falkland islands government air service (FIGAS) has ordered one de Havilland Beaver aircraft to replace the two which were destroyed during the fighting.
A representative of FIGAS will probably travel to Canada from Britain soon, and he will select the second-hand plane. It is possible that a turboprop model may be purchased, and if this decision is made it will greatly facilitate the supply of fuel. The avgas used by the old Beavers was becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, and a turbo model would use common jet fuel.
FIGAS hopes that it will be possible to fly the plane to Stanley via Chile. However this may mean travelling through Argentine airspace – simply not possible in the present mood of that country.
The authorities may, therefore, decided freight the machine, partially assembled aboard a ship.
The new Beaver will arrive in the islands equipped with wheels but these will be replaced with floats as soon as possible.
The Air Services’ one Britten Norman Islander was also destroyed during the war. The neatly severed fuselage can be seen near the airport. Civil Commissioner Hunt would like to see this plane replaced with two Turbo Islanders. Others involved with FIGAS view this as a good opportunity to graduate onto larger and more sophisticated aircraft. They have suggested De Havilland Twin Otters. No decision has yet been made concerning the land-based machines.